This week on Mama’s Gonna Make It, we’re getting lit (literally!) with local children’s book author, award-winning former high school English teacher, and literacy advocate Lily Rosene! Join us as we dive into all things reading: sparking joy, building lifelong habits, and how literacy can shape connection, curiosity, and confidence in our kids.
We talk about:
📚 What made Lily fall in love with reading
📖 How we can foster a true joy of reading—not just compliance with our kids and students
👧🏽 How giving kids choice in reading builds empowerment and identity
🧠 The brain + how different formats help all types of learners
🌟 Lily’s own delightful children’s books: How to Bee a Friend and How to Bee Polite
Books We Mentioned:
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller & Teri Lesesne
- Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
- The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
- Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
- If You Give a Pig a Pancake / If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff
- How to Bee a Friend and How to Bee Polite by Lily Rosene
Resources + Highlights:
- Lily’s website
- Follow Lily on Instagram: @literacywithlily
- Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum
- On Student Choice Reading Edutopia: The Reading Wars – Choice vs Canon by Holly Korbey
- Beanstack Blog: The Art of Reading – Do Graphic Novels Count?
- School Library Journal: Laying the Foundation for Reading Joy by Donalyn Miller
- Choice
- Time
- Access
- Community
- The Yarn Podcast – Ep. 166: The Joy of Reading Unraveled with Donalyn Miller
- Heinemann Podcast – Harnessing the Joy of Reading with Donalyn Miller
- Goodreads
Libby App – Free E-books, Audiobooks, and E-magazines from local Public Libraries
- Get a library card from your local public library
- Call to get your PIN
- Download the Libby app
- Log in using your library credentials
- Explore thousands of books—free and at your fingertips!
Sora App– Ask your school librarian if your school has access! (WSFCS does!)
Whether you’re a book lover, reluctant reader, or trying to inspire your little ones to fall in love with stories, this episode will leave you feeling inspired, informed, and ready to get lit(erary)!
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share with your fellow bookworms! 🐝📚✨
Recorded in the Omniverus Studios at Liberty Plaza, we are produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media.
Theme Music by Doug Davis.
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English